FAQ's
How can I get a copy of a police report?
You can request a police report in a number of ways: A copy of an initial incident report can be obtained by using the EVENT SEARCH function in this site. You may email the Police Records Room at records@lakewoodoh.net. You can mail your request to the Police Department at 12650 Detroit Avenue. You can fax your request to (216) 521-7727. You can call the Police Record Room at (216) 529-6785. You can come to the Police Department front counter from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Additional information is available on the City’s website at www.onelakewood.com.

How long does it take for a police report to be ready?
For report requested from the Police Record Room it generally takes three (3) days from the date the information about the incident was received by the reporting officer.

What do I need to do if my vehicle is towed by the Lakewood Police Department?
Before the vehicle will be released by the towing company, the owner or person requesting release of a towed vehicle MUST come to the front counter of the Lakewood Police Department with the vehicle title and/or registration in order to obtain a release form to present to the towing company.

Where is my car impounded?
Kufner Towing, 3775 Ridge Road in Cleveland, phone number is (216) 529-3320.

What are the jail visiting hours?
Tuesday and Saturday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Thursday from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Clergy and Attorney may visit at any time.

If someone is in your jail, what can I bring them?
Books, magazines, and underwear. Prisoners do not need money and any other items are provided.

When do I have to pay the parking meters or parking kiosk in the Municipal Parking Lots?
Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Do I have to pay the parking meters or kiosk in the Municipal Parking Lots on a holiday?
Metered parking is free on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth (4th) of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What are the restrictions on 24 hour parking?
Under Lakewood Codified Ordinance 351.18, cars cannot remain parked in a disabled condition or without using the vehicle in a normal manner, in excess of 24 hours.

What will happen to my car that is in violation of 24 hours parking?
An officer will start a check on the car upon the complaint. After twenty-four hours,the officer will return to the car. If it has not been moved, the officer will issue a parking citation and a notice about being towed. The officer will attempt to notify the listed owner. Twenty-four hours after the parking citation has been issued, the vehicle will be towed and removed from the street.

How do I get a permit to park in a municipal parking lot?
Call the Administrative Assistant in the Police Department at (216) 529-6750

Can my group get a tour of the Police Station?
Tours are available by appointment with one of the Neighborhood Police Officers. Please contact your neighborhood officer to set up an appointment: Ward 4, Mike Fritsch, 12400 Madison Ave., (Fedor Manor), (216) 346-9287 michael.fritsch@lakewoodoh.net Wards 2 and 3, Matt Wintrick, 14812 Detroit Ave., Suite 200 (entrance off of Detroit Ave., office above Deagan’s Restaurant), (216) 701-3308 matthew.wintrick@lakewoodoh.net Ward 1, Brian McNeeley, 14812 Detroit Ave., Suite 200 (entrance off of Detroit Ave., office above Deagan’s Restaurant), (216) 762-8498 brian.mcneeley@lakewoodoh.net

What can I do about a car parked on my street that hasn’t been moved in a while?
Call the non-emergency number, (216)521-6773. Tell the dispatcher the location, description and license plate number of the vehicle. A police officer will be sent. The officer will start a twenty-four hour check on the vehicle. After twenty-four hours, a parking ticket and tow notification form will be placed on the vehicle. The officer will then try to notify the owner. Twenty-four hours after the ticket is placed, if the vehicle is still in violation the vehicle can be towed.

If I call the Lakewood Police do I have to leave my name and phone number?
No. Any caller can remain anonymous, but having the information may be beneficial to the officers for further follow up. Any information that is left does become a public record.

What can I do about speeders on my street?
Contact your neighborhood officer or the non-emergency number at (216) 521-6773. The police will determine if it is appropriate to assign a police car to run radar on the street for a number of days.

Do I need to register my bicycle, and how much does it cost?
The Lakewood Codified Ordinances require every bicycle to have Lakewood license affixed to it. The licenses are FREE and can be obtained from your Neighborhood Police Officer or the front counter of the police station.

When is the Detective Bureau open?
The Detective Bureau is open Mondays from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday – Friday from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

How can I learn which detective is assigned to my case?
You can contact the Detective Bureau Sergeant at (216) 529-6763 or (216) 529-6761. If you do not know the report number assigned to your case, we should be able to determine the detective by your name, location or date.

Is a Detective assigned to every report?
No. Detectives are assigned for follow up based on solvability factors. When those factors are not present, active follow up is not pursued. Should some leads become available after the fact, the case can be reassigned to a detective.

If I am a victim of a crime, do I need an attorney?
No. The Lakewood or County Prosecutor represents the victim of the crime in the criminal prosecution of the case.

How can I obtain a protection order?
There are two types of protection orders: A Temporary Protection Order (TPO) and a Civil Protection Order (CPO). A TPO is obtained through the Lakewood Municipal Court after filing of a criminal complaint, usually alleging Domestic Violence. The TPO can also come from Common Pleas Court when the underlying offense is a felony. Domestic Violence victims can request a TPO. A CPO is obtained through Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court and does not require filing of criminal charges. Generally, the CPO arises from civil domestic situations when abuse is alleged. Violations of either a TPO or CPO can be enforced by arrest.

How do I make a complaint about or commend an officer or employee?
Calls can be made to the Chief’s office at (216) 529-6750, or the Officer in Charge at (216) 529-6790. Complaints can also be made in P2C on the "Contact Us" tab or in person at the front counter of the department. The Officer in Charge will record the information about the complaint on a departmental form, and it will be forwarded to the Internal Affairs Officer. An investigation will be commenced regarding the complaint, and the person making the complaint will be contacted at the conclusion with the results.

How do I hire an Off Duty Police Officer?
Call the Officer in Charge at (216) 529-6790. The Officer in Charge will take your information and post the information about the job. If an officer is interested, they will contact you directly and discuss the duties, times, and pay for the job. The Lakewood Police Department will not approve Off Duty employment for full time liquor establishments in Lakewood.

Who is my Neighborhood Police Officer?
WARD 1:PO Neil Thibodeaux, 1388 Warren Rd.(216) 762-8498 neil.thibodeaux@lakewoodoh.net Ward 2: PO Kristen Chengery, 1388 Warren Rd. (216) 501-3038 Ward 3 PO William McCarthy,12501 Lake Ave.(216) 334-5657 william.mccarthy@lakewoodoh.net. Ward 4:PO John Winters 12400 Madison Ave. (216)333-6173 john.winters@lakewoodoh.net

What is the curfew for juveniles?
NIGHT CURFEW.......... 509.12 CURFEW. (a) No child of or under the age of fourteen years shall be upon the streets or sidewalks or any public property within the City between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following morning; nor shall any child over the age of fourteen but under the age of sixteen years be upon the streets or sidewalk or any public property within the City between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m, nor shall any child of or over the age of sixteen but under the age of eighteen years be upon the streets or sidewalk or any public property within the City between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. However, the provisions of this section do not apply to a minor accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or where the minor is upon an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by a parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor. (b) No parent or guardian of any child of or under the age of fourteen years shall allow such child to be on the streets or sidewalks or any public property within the City between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following morning, nor shall any parent or guardian of any child over the age of fourteen but under the age of sixteen years allow such child to be upon the streets or sidewalks between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., nor shall any parent or guardian of any child of or over the age of sixteen but under the age of eighteen years allow such child to be upon the streets or sidewalk or any public property within the City between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. However, the provisions of this section do not apply to a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian or to any other adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or where the minor is upon an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by a parent or guardian or by any other adult person having the care and custody of the minor. (c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof shall be dealt with in accordance with Juvenile Court law and procedure. Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (Ord. 45-07.Passed 6-4-2007.) DAYTIME CURFEW..... 509.14 DAYTIME CURFEW. (a) No minor shall be in any public place within the City except for attendance at school during regular school hours on any school day unless: (1) The minor has written proof from school authorities that he or she is excused from school attendance at that particular time; or (2) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian or a responsible adult selected by the parent or legal guardian to supervise the child; or (3) The minor is participating in a bona fide, approved work-study program during the hours of such work-study assignment; or (4) The minor is on an emergency errand or conducting some other legitimate business. It shall be an affirmative defense to this subsection that the minor is not required by state law to be in attendance at school. School suspensions or expulsions are not an affirmative defense to this section. (b) Each parent, legal guardian and custodian of a minor shall have a duty to prohibit the minor from behaving contrary to subsection (a) hereof. No parent, legal guardian or custodian shall negligently fail to fulfill the duty imposed by this subsection. It shall be an affirmative defense to this subsection that the parent or legal guardian has initiated the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court against the minor prior to the time that the minor was found violating subsection (a) hereof. (c) A police officer, parole officer, probation officer or school designee may transport any minor found violating subsection (a) hereof, to the school the child usually attends, or to any location designated by the school authorities as a receiving center for such children, the choice of destination to be made at the discretion of the police officer or school designee based on proximity of the destination and other relevant factors, and subject to the need to respond to emergency or priority calls. (d) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof shall be dealt with in accordance with Juvenile Court law and procedure. Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for the first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense. (Ord. 98-08. Passed 2-17-2009.)

Does the Lakewood Police Department offer fingerprinting services?
Fingerprinting is not a service offered by the Lakewood Police Department. There are private businesses in the community that do provide fingerprinting. Search the Ohio Attorney General`s website at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Business/Services-for-Business/WebCheck/Webcheck-Community-Listing for Webcheck locations.

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